I-Day: PM to unfurl national flag at Red Fort

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will unfurl the national flag on the ramparts of the Red Fort to celebrate India's 65th Independence Day. He will then address the nation.

On arrival at the Lahore Gate of Red Fort, the Prime Minister will be received by the defence minister AK Antony, minister of state for defence MM Pallam Raju and defence secretary Shashikant Sharma.

The defence secretary will introduce the General Officer Commanding (GOC), Delhi area, maj gen Manvender Singh to the prime minister.

Maj gen Singh will then conduct the Prime Minister to the saluting base, where a combined inter-services and police guard will present the general salute. Thereafter, Manmohan Singh will inspect the guard of honour - which will consist of one officer and 24 men each from army, navy, air force and Delhi Police.

After inspecting the guard of honour, the Prime Minister will proceed to the Red Fort where he will unfurl the flag.

The flag hoisting will synchronise with a 21 gun salute. The national flag guard comprising 32 men and one officer each from army, navy, air force and Delhi Police will present the "Rashtriya Salute" at the time of unfurling, while an army band will play the National Anthem.

The Prime Minister will then address the nation, following which school children and members of the National Cadet Corps will sing the National Anthem.

About 700 cadets of the NCC and 3,500 girl students from 40 schools are participating in the function this year. They will also sing patriotic songs in different regional languages before the start of the ceremony.